First Orang Asli male called to the Bar

A 57-year-old Orang Asli lawyer called to the Bar at the Ipoh High Court yesterday has vowed to fight for the long denied basis rights of his marginalised community.

Amani Willams-Hunt Abdullah, of mixed English-Orang Asli parentage, is the first male to be called to the bar in the country and the third in the community after two females before him. He is the husband of Open University Malaysia, Perak Regional Centre's student, Khatimatul Husna Zainuddin

He said that the basic rights of his community as enshrined in Article 8(5)(c) of the federal constitution have been ignored by both the federal and state governments in the last 53 years,


Abdullah (left with his wife and lawyer Anthony in photo) pointed out that the article does not invalidate or prohibit any provision for the protection, well-being or advancement of the aboriginal peoples of the Malay peninsular (including the reservation of land) or the reservation to aborigines a reasonable proportion of suitable positions in the public service.

He said much hype and importance has been given to Article 153 of the constitution which ensures reservation of quotas in respect of services, permits etc for Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

However, the Orang Asli, the natives of Malaya, have been marginalised and not been given the same importance and such implementation as enshrined in the article.

Hence Amani, a former president of the Association of Aborigines of Peninsular Malaysia, wants to correct this social economic imbalance of his community in terms of land, education, employment and other economic opportunities as enjoyed by other Malaysians.

'Law is the cement of society'

The economics graduate and former banker who believes that "law is the cement of society", has chosen the legal profession to initiate reforms within his community so they can match the economic progress of other Malaysians.

According to human rights lawyer and social worker Augustine Anthony, upon taking over the helm as president of the community's association, Amani had reorganised, revitalised and within the period of 1987 to 1991 had boosted its the membership from a mere 300 to 17,000.

Amani's father was anthropologist Major Peter Willams-Hunt, the first advisor to the government on Orang Asli affairs, and his mother, Wak Draman, a member of the Tapah Semai tribe's chief's family.

Amani is married to Khatimatul Husna Zainuddin, 38, with six children aged from 10 to 30.

Redesign around killer Jelapang stretch complete - Star

July 14, 2009

IPOH: The stretch of the North-South Expressway between Ipoh Selatan and the former killer Jelapang toll plaza has been opened to traffic, allowing non-stop travelling between Kuala Lumpur and destinations north of here.

Previously, road users had to stop at the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza to pay toll, then collect another ticket at the Ipoh Utara toll plaza before continuing their journey north.

The redesigned stretch, opened by Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor on Tuesday, was prompted by the need to remove the Jelapang toll plaza where several fatal accidents had occurred.

Work, which began last year, included the construction of two parallel toll-free roads to enable Ipoh residents to travel between the Ipoh Selatan, Ipoh Utara and Jelapang interchanges without needing to pay toll.

Users heading to Ipoh -- whether to Jalan Tasek, Jalan Kuala Kangsar or Jalan Jelapang -- from Kuala Lumpur now need to exit the expressway at Ipoh Selatan.

Those from the north should exit at the new Ipoh Utara interchange which replaces the old Jelapang exit.

New tax deduction system from July - Star

July 10, 2009 By SARBAN SINGH

PORT DICKSON: A new schedular tax deduction system from this month will eliminate the need for employees to pay an additional lump sum at the year-end to make up for the shortfall in monthly deductions.

Inland Revenue Board (IRB) chief executive officer Datuk Hasmah Adullah said that under the current system implemented in 2004, the board had on many occasions taken a big cut of the individual’s bonus to make up for the shortfall.

“We had cases where an employee’s entire bonus would go to the IRB (to make up for the shortfall). We do not want to do this any more as it is unfair to the taxpayer.

“It is better for us to make higher deductions every month. This is a better arrangement,” she said, adding that under new system, the taxpayer would have paid up almost all his dues by the end of the year.

She added that the new system would also allow for employees to submit their claims for rebates every month, along with a range of new reliefs.

Previously, the taxpayer was allowed to claim relief for himself, his spouse, their children, his Employees Provident Fund and insurance contributions, and zakat payment (if any), and claim other reliefs only when filing his returns at the end of the assessment year.

Under the new system, Hasmah said an employee can submit claims for rebates such as parents’ medical bills, purchase of a computer, tertiary education fees, medical check-ups, and book and sports equipment purchases to his employer every month using the PCB/TP1 form.

“When this is done, the tax to be paid for that particular month will be reduced automatically. This would practically be a real-time tax payment system.

“We want the taxpayer to benefit straightaway rather then wait till the end of the year,” she said.

She said under the new system, the employee could make monthly claims for 17 other reliefs announced in Budget 2009.

The employee, she added, would not have to submit receipts for the claims to the employer.

Among the new reliefs announced are for travelling allowance, petrol claims, parking fees, food allowance, caretaker fee, maternity and traditional medicine treatment (ayurvedic, acupuncture, etc) and subscription to broadband services.

She said taxpayers could submit their claims for rebates monthly, quarterly or twice a year.

Hasmah said employers who needed assistance on the workings of the new structure could enter the board’s website at www.hasil.gov.my and look for the schedular tax deduction (PCB) calculator icon.